Best Bike Trails in Hartford / West Hartford / East Hartford
Hartford is known as the insurance capital of the world, which to most people, sounds like a major snooze. But rejoice–there are great mountain bike trails near the capital city of Connecticut!
Rockland Preserve
With about 25 miles of trails in the network, Rockland Preserve is bristling with berms, log rides, jumps, and of course, sweet singletrack. Most of the trails here are designed for mountain biking, and as a result, Singletracks readers give Rockland Preserve high marks. Some riders report the trails are fairly technical, so keep that in mind if you’re a beginner. Rockland Preserve is located near Madison, CT and is pushing our self-imposed 25-mile radius from the city of Hartford, so it may be best to carve out a full day for this ride.
Cowles Park
On the opposite end of Hartford, Cowles Park packs a ton of variety into just 8 miles of trails. The trails are reportedly well-maintained and flow nicely, making it a top pick not just for the Hartford area but for the entire state of Connecticut.
Penwood State Park
Northwest of Hartford, Penwood State Park features about 7 miles of trails dotted with plenty of roots and slate rock to keep riders entertained. Plus, Penwood offers some of the most scenic views in the state of Connecticut, as the bike trail traverses the edge of a 200-foot cliff.
Millers Pond
We recently featured Jordan Byron’s video showcasing the rocky trail features at Millers Pond, and many were truly surprised at how technical the trails are. Singletracks readers seem to agree that the trails at Millers Pond are among the most technical in the state. However, even novice riders should be able to enjoy Millers Pond thanks to regular ride-arounds and separate XC trails within the park.
Grayville Falls Town Park
Getting to Grayville Falls Town Park from Hartford will take at least 30 minutes, even without traffic, but judging by the photos and reviews, it’s totally worth the trip. These trails are well-suited to intermediate riders, and offer a variety of short descents and quintessentially New England rocky, rooty trails. The 8 miles of riding available in Grayville Falls Town Park is mostly all killer singletrack, with little fire-road filler.
Do you need trail recommendations for Northeastern USA / Southeastern Canada cities we didn’t cover? Ask around on our forums–we’re sure Singletracks readers can point you in the right direction!
